The 17th gathering of the world’s best youth nations opened on Thursday with hosts Egypt delighting home fans at the 80,000 capacity Egyptian Army Stadium with a 4-1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago.

Asia’s interests will commence on Saturday when Korea Republic meet Cameroon in Suez’s Group C, before Uzbekistan open their Group D account against Ghana in Ismailia.

On Sunday, Australia and the United Arab Emirates will be introduced to the tournament simultaneously, the former against the Czech Republic in Port Said and the latter in Alexandria against South Africa.

Together, Australia, Korea Republic, UAE and Uzbekistan are hoping to rewrite the record books for Asian teams at FIFA’s flagship tournament for youth.

High hopes

Importantly, the teams themselves and all of Asia alike believe this to be a real possibility.

The UAE, in particular, have arrived in Egypt commonly regarded as one of the teams to beat.

Coached by Madhi Ali Hassan, the UAE were in irresistible form throughout the AFC U-19 Championship, which acted as a qualifier for Egypt - winning all of their six matches in tournament in Saudi Arabia, where they impressively claimed the scalps of each of their fellow qualifiers as well as that of the hosts.

UAE, who hosted the FIFA U-20 Championship four years ago, have been drawn in what could be considered to be one of the weaker groups and would fancy their chances at bettering their quarter-final finish in 2005.

Next over the line en route to Egypt were the Uzbeks, who though not nearly as cavalier as the UAE were no less effective in securing their second FIFA Under-20 World Cup berth.

Four years ago, Uzbekistan made their FIFA Under-20 World Cup debut but were dealt a harsh blow in the draw - meeting Argentina, Spain and African surprise packets Mali.

The Uzbeks will view the challenge of England, Ghana and Uruguay more favourably on this occasion, particularly with lynchpin striker Davron Mirzayev - contracted to Russian giants Rubin Kazan and capped three times by the Uzbek national team - leading the line up front.

Aussies’ new identity

Australia come to Egypt having secured their maiden berth at a FIFA Under-20 World Cup since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.

Boasting more European-based players than any Asian participant in Egypt, the Young Socceroos will need to overcome a tough group that includes tournament favourites Brazil, European heavyweights the Czech Republic and CONCACAF champions Costa Rica.

Australia coach Jan Versleijen has assembled a competitive squad drawn primarily from Australia’s A-League who will remember and draw inspiration from their country’s rich history at this level, which includes back-to-back semi-final appearances in 1991 and 1993.

The most experienced Asian nation are Korea Republic, who will line up for their fourth consecutive FIFA Under-20 World Cup and 11th in total.

Korean experience

Though Hong Myong-bo’s charges failed to qualify for the final of last year’s AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia - a tournament they have won a record 11 times - to write off Korea Republic would be naive.

Indeed, the Koreans’ semi-final elimination in Saudi Arabia last year was perhaps not entirely reflective of the teams form.

Beaten to first place in Group B by an untouchable UAE side, Korea recorded an impressive 3-0 triumph over Japan to seal their berth in Egypt before falling to Uzbekistan at the penultimate hurdle.

Not since Japan’s stunning run to the final of the 1999 FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournament in Nigeria has an Asian side reached the final four of these biennual championships.

The Japan team in question would ultimately become the foundation of much of their future successes - with Junichi Inamoto, Naohiro Takahara and Shinjo Ono among those that contributed to an unforgettable campaign in Asian youth football terms.

A decade on, hopes are high that within one of Asia’s four representatives in Egypt is a squad capable of forging a similar dynasty.